Surname Wakop - Meaning and Origin
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Wakop: What does the surname Wakop mean?
The last name Wakop is a common surname from Cameroon. It is of Bamileke and Bamun ethnic origins, and is believed to have been derived from the word "okep," which means "gathering" or "meeting place" in Fufundem. It is also said to have stemmed from an earlier name of the town of Nkambe, which means "meeting place" in the local language.
The Wakop surname is most commonly found among people of the Bamum people, a Niger-Congo ethnic group. This group of people live in Cameroon, with much of their traditional land being located in the western part of the country. Aside from the Bamum, some members of the Douala, Bamiléké, and Pygmy peoples are also known to bear the Wakop surname.
The Wakop surname is fairly common across Cameroon, and can also be found in neighbouring countries such as Chad, the Central African Republic, and Congo. The surname is typically passed down through the male line, with sons usually being given the name of their father at birth.
The Wakop surname is closely tied to the traditional culture of Cameroon. Within local traditional religions, the Wakop surname represents good fortune and prosperity. It is also a symbol of strength and stability, relating to the importance of community cohesion and loyalty.
Order DNA origin analysisWakop: Where does the name Wakop come from?
The last name Wakop is most commonly found today in South Africa, particularly in the country's Eastern Cape province. Its presence is most prominent among the Xhosa people, one of South Africa's major ethnic groups. The surname is believed to be derived from a Xhosa phrase meaning “someone who has been permitted to live in peace” in reference to an ancestor of the clan who was allowed to settle within the region long ago.
The origin story of Wakop likely dates back more than two centuries to when the British began to colonize the Eastern Cape region, thenknown as the Xhosa Kingdom. At the time, many individuals were forcibly relocated away from their family’s areas of origin, and as a result, the Wakop surname was spread throughout the region.
Today, Wakop is one of the most common surnames in the Eastern Cape, often found within families whose other ancestors may have originated from different parts of South Africa. Records show that the surname has now become widespread throughout the country, though for the most part its highest concentration is still in the Eastern Cape.
As of 2020, an estimated 3,500 individuals in South Africa bearing the surname Wakop have been recorded. This number is expected to rise over time, as the descendants of the families relocated by the British during the colonization era continue to grow and spread the surname throughout the country.
Variations of the surname Wakop
The surname Wakop, sometimes spelled Wakopp, Wakoppe, Wockop, Wockopp, Wackop, Wackopp, or Wackoff, is of Germanic origin. It originally referred to a person who resided near a wak or corner-stone. It is also sometimes alternatively spelled as Wochop, Wockoppe, Wackopf, or Wackoffe.
The surname is also found in its variants Walkup, Walkupp, Walckopf, Walcopp, Walczak, or Walczyk. These variations are all derived from the Germanic root "walchen," meaning to roll, turn, drive away, to hang, or to turn around.
The surname can also be broken down into its extremely common roots as well. “Wa” is a Germanic prefix used to signify movement or motion, so “Wakop” could then be broken down to mean “motion corner-stone”.
In English-speaking countries, the surname may also be found spelt Wackop, Waackopp, or Waggop, which are Anglicized forms of Wakop or Walkup. In other countries, the surname may take on different spellings and surnames of similar origins, such as Vacque in France, Wagop in Holland, Wackoff in Denmark, and Vokop or Wakop in Russia.
The various spellings of the Wakop surname indicate its long and varied history, highlighting the influence of immigration and travel on names over time. It is also a testament to the many mysteries, and yet commonalities, present in researching one's family history.
Famous people with the name Wakop
- Kanyenke Wakop Akuku Mwingira: Tanzanian politician and cabinet minister
- Yulius Wakop: Nigerian author and motivational speaker
- Timoti Wakop:Timorese politician and director
- Florian Kanyenke Wakop: Kenyan political advisor
- Shimanyula Wakop: Zambian politician and former journalist
- Tresia Wakop: Indonesian entrepreneur and philanthropist
- August Wakop: Namibian footballer
- Grevane Wakop:Togolese freestyle footballer
- Wayino Wakop: South African entrepreneur, brand manager, public speaker and social media influencer
- Myuch Wakop: Liberian painter and sculptor